After weeks of uncertainty, the Northwest Texas Healthcare System’s (NWTHS) freestanding emergency departments (FEDs) on Georgia Street and Hillside Road are set to reopen on Monday, December 2. The announcement comes after emergency care providers finalized a contract with a new emergency department staffing agency, EM Alliance, following significant disruptions caused by the previous agency, NES.
The FEDs were abruptly closed on November 20, leaving the community without critical emergency care services after physicians reported not being paid for nearly two months under NES.
In a statement released Sunday afternoon, NWTHS addressed the reopening and emphasized its commitment to resolving the crisis and maintaining high-quality patient care:
“NWTHS will resume operations at both free-standing emergency department locations beginning Monday, December 2. The previous NES providers have reached a contractual agreement with EM Alliance. While some of the providers felt they needed to represent the physician providers, some commentary may have been misconstrued that NWTHS was not actively involved in the resolution. Physician representatives who have spoken openly about this situation are not employees of NWTHS, and comments to the media were personal views. NWTHS has and will continue to be partners with emergency physicians who provide quality care for our community. We are proud to bring care into our neighborhoods, which brings care closer to home.”
Resolving a Nationwide Issue
The disruption caused by NES, a staffing agency that has reportedly left over 30 hospital systems across the nation in similar turmoil, created challenges for both healthcare providers and the communities they serve. NWTHS leadership worked diligently to navigate these difficulties and establish a new partnership to restore operations.
Dr. Poage, an emergency physician, acknowledged the efforts of NWTHS leadership in finding a solution:
“The Northwest CEO and his team have been working really hard to try to navigate this mess that NES has left everyone in. You know, just like NES did to over 30 different hospital systems around the nation.”
A Collaborative Approach
The resolution required coordinated efforts from multiple parties, including hospital leadership, emergency physicians, and the new staffing agency. Physicians expressed gratitude for the swift action taken to reopen the facilities and resume their roles in serving the community.
Dr. David Pearson, an emergency physician, emphasized the shared dedication to patient care:
“There’s multiple sides of the table, people working to make this happen, and I do wanna thank the leadership involved and appreciate getting back to work. That’s kind of what we did our training for, and [we’re] very happy to get back to serving the community.”
Commitment to Patient Care
The reopening of the FEDs represents a critical step forward for the Amarillo community, ensuring residents have access to emergency care close to home. Dr. Poage expressed enthusiasm about resuming operations:
“This has not been easy for us or for the City of Amarillo, and so we appreciate y’all. We are so excited to get back to taking care of y’all and working at the free-standings.”
A New Chapter
The reopening of the Georgia Street and Hillside Road FEDs marks the beginning of a new chapter for NWTHS and its emergency medical team. Moving forward, the focus remains on rebuilding trust, delivering high-quality care, and ensuring that such disruptions are avoided in the future.
For residents of Amarillo, the reopening is a welcome relief and a reminder of the dedication of healthcare professionals who persevered through a challenging situation to prioritize the community’s needs.
.jpg)
